Next: about 15 to 17 Aug 2027
New Yam Festival
The Igbo Iri Ji: the first yams of the year are offered to the gods and ancestors before anyone eats them.
When is New Yam Festival in 2027?
New Yam Festival 2027 runs from 15 to 17 August 2027. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2026, 15 to 17 August 2026; 2028, 15 to 17 August 2028.
About New Yam Festival
The New Yam Festival, called Iri Ji or Iwa Ji in Igbo, is a thanksgiving at the beginning of the yam harvest, usually in August or early September. The yam is the king of crops in southeastern Nigeria, and no one may eat the new yams until the festival has been held. The eldest man of the community or the king offers the first yam to the deities, particularly Ani, the earth goddess, and to the ancestors, with prayers for abundance and peace. Afterwards, the new yams are roasted or boiled and eaten with palm oil and sauces, and a feast is held in the compound. There are masquerades, cultural dancers, wrestling, and displays of Igbo costumes and coral beads. The festival also has similar versions in Ghana, Togo and Benin. The date varies by community.
New Yam Festival dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | New Yam Festival date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 to 17 August 2026 |
| 2027 | 15 to 17 August 2027 |
| 2028 | 15 to 17 August 2028 |
This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.
What is eaten
- roasted yam
- yam porridge
- palm oil sauce
Also part of it, and being written: Igbo people (The people of the festival.), Yam (The root crop honoured.), Ani (The earth deity.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "New Yam Festival" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.